Connecticut native and writer for Human Events, Michelle Oddis, penned an article for the publication that went up today entitled “John McCain: He’s Always There When He Needs Us.”

She writes:

The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) is one-stop shopping for presidential candidates. It’s the one time every year that they can guarantee themselves the attention of more movement conservatives than at any other single gathering.

For years, Sen. John McCain has been noticeable by his absence. This year he’s not only coming, his campaign has bought a display booth in the exhibition hall.

McCain chose not to attend CPAC last year, all his major opponents at the time decided to attend. He came in last in the 2007 CPAC Presidential Straw Poll with only 12%. Mitt Romney came in first with 21%. McCain’s lack of attendance was a major slap in the face to so-called “movement conservatives” and they returned the favor by booing his name at several times throughout the three day program.

According to the article, “[l]ast year, McCain also missed the National Review Institute Conservative Summit and Heritage Foundation’s Conservative Members Retreat. He also turned down an invitation to speak at a Club for Growth conference.”

Now, perhaps realizing he needs to boost his base support, McCain is attending CPAC and pulling out all the stops.

Is McCain pandering to conservatives now or is he acting as the presumptive nominee and starting to mend fences? The answer likely depends on your personal opinion towards the Senator from Arizona.

Read the full article here.